Embracing the Light’s Return
As we settle into January, the quiet rhythm of winter carries subtle yet profound changes. Here in Belfast, Maine, the days have stretched slightly longer since the winter solstice. On December 21, we experienced just about 8 hours and 50 minutes of daylight. Now, by January 11, we’ve gained an additional 20 minutes, bringing our days to roughly 9 hours and 10 minutes of light.
This gradual return of the light reminds us of the Earth’s continuous journey, tilted on its axis, spinning through space and time. Each additional moment of sunlight whispers a quiet promise: growth, renewal, and the inevitable blossoming to come. The acceleration of daylight gain, about 2 minutes each day in mid-January, signals a tangible shift—one we can see if we pause to observe the sun lingering just a little longer on the horizon.
By the end of the month, we’ll embrace nearly 10 hours of daylight, a full hour more than at the solstice. This return of light is a metaphorical invitation to notice what is brightening within us as the days lengthen. What dreams are stirring beneath your surface, ready to meet the returning light?
This week, as the celestial dance continues, let us align with this steady growth, finding inspiration in both the heavens and the Earth’s quiet perseverance.
ILLUMINATING THE STRENGTH OF SENSITIVITY – Monday, January 13, 2025
The Moon in Cancer asks us to find sanctuary in our emotions. This powerful and sensitive Mooon encourages reflection on what makes us feel safe, supported, and nurtured. Honor the ebb and flow of feelings without judgment, allowing space for vulnerability and tenderness.
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The CANCER Full Moon (5:27 PM EST) casts its light on themes of home, family, and emotional security. Each month the full moon brings clarity and culmination, and today’s may reveal how well we’ve cared for ourselves and others. Release any burdens or patterns that rub against the grain of your well-being. As this lunation peaks, notice where your heart feels called to deepen connections or establish firmer emotional boundaries. Pay attention to the house in your natal chart that holds 24° Cancer—this is where emotional growth and release are calling.
Early in the day, the Sun in Capricorn trines Uranus in Taurus (3:13 AM EST), offering a surprising breakthrough or unexpected insights. This aspect supports practical innovation and makes it easier to approach changes with clarity and purpose. Stability doesn’t have to mean stagnation. Allow unexpected inspiration to guide you toward fresh solutions, especially where security and long-term goals are concerned.
Introspective Questions:
- Where do I need to release emotional patterns to create space for new growth?
- What practical changes can I make to feel more secure and supported?
- How can I honor my emotions while remaining open to change and spontaneity?
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PRACTICALITY VS PLEASURE – Tuesday, January 14, 2025
The Moon enters Leo at 4:12 am EST, shifting the emotional tone toward confidence and self-expression. Leo encourages us to step into the spotlight of our lives, embrace creativity, and celebrate what makes us unique. This is a day to lead with courage and let joy and playfulness guide your actions.
However, the square between Venus in Capricorn and Jupiter in Taurus (2:47 PM EST) reminds us to be mindful of excess. While Venus seeks beauty, connection, and comfort, Jupiter amplifies desires, sometimes pushing us to overindulge or overpromise. This aspect can highlight the tension between practicality and pleasure, asking us to balance ambition with gratitude for what we already have.
Introspective Questions:
- How can I express my true self while not seeking external validation?
- Where am I being called to balance indulgence with discipline?
- What small joys can I celebrate today without reaching for something more?
PASSION AND TENSION – Wednesday, January 15, 2025
The Moon in Leo continues to stoke courage and creativity, encouraging bold expression and heartfelt action. Leo’s influence invites us to lead with authenticity and may feel dynamic and inspiring.
The Sun in Capricorn offers the focus of the day as it opposes retrograde Mars in Gemini (9:38 PM EST). This suggests a powerful tension between focused discipline and scattered impulses and actions. The Sun’s steady light in Capricorn seeks order and purpose, while Mars retrograde stirs up unresolved frustrations, forcing us to revisit old conflicts or incomplete plans. This opposition highlights areas of resistance—where we feel pulled between action and reflection, assertion and restraint.
Rather than giving in to impatience or defensiveness, use this energy to identify patterns of tension in your life. Pay attention to situations that provoke strong reactions, as they point to issues that need to be acknowledged. Constructive conversations and intentional pauses can prevent conflicts from escalating and transform frustration into clarity.
Introspective Questions:
- Where am I feeling the tension between control and spontaneity in my life?
- What unresolved conflicts or frustrations need my attention and care?
- How can I channel my energy into purposeful action rather than reaction?
GROUNDED FOCUS – Thursday, January 16, 2025
The Moon enters Virgo at 11:46 AM EST, shifting the emotional tone toward practicality, organization, and service. Virgo’s energy encourages us to focus on practical details, tending to tasks that bring order and simplicity. This is an excellent time to streamline routines, clear clutter, and prioritize wellness and care.
Pay attention to how you care for yourself and others through your daily habits. Be mindful, of perfectionistic tendencies. Remember that progress matters more than flawless execution. Let the day be about thoughtful effort rather than over-analysis.
Introspective Questions:
- Where can I create more order and balance in my daily life?
- How do my habits reflect the care I give to myself and others?
- What small, practical steps can I take today to support my well-being?
IMAGINATION & COMPASSION – Friday, January 17, 2025
The Sun in Capricorn forms a sextile with Neptune in Pisces at 6:19 AM EST, softening the day’s tone with a touch of imagination and compassion. This harmonious aspect blends Capricorn’s grounded determination with Neptune’s gentle idealism, creating an opportunity for inspired thinking and emotional sensitivity. It’s a good day to approach work with a combination of structure and intuition, allowing space for creativity to shape practical solutions.
The qualities of this combination support forgiveness, healing, and empathy, helping to resolve misunderstandings or ease internal tensions. Connect with art or nature to replenish your spirit.
The Moon remains in Virgo all day, holding much of your attention on practical tasks, organization, and refining details. Virgo’s grounded energy encourages thoughtful problem-solving and attending to unfinished work, making this a productive day.
Introspective Questions:
- How can I balance practicality with imagination in my approach to today’s tasks?
- What small act of compassion—for myself or someone else—can I offer today?
- Where might I need to let go of perfectionism to create space for inspiration?
BUILDING FOUNDATIONS OF LOVE – Saturday, January 18, 2025
The Moon remains in Virgo for most of the day keeping our focus on organization, refinement, and practical tasks. At 10:32 PM EST, the Moon enters Libra shifting our attention to relationships, harmony, and balance. Libra’s influence over the next few days will invite us to reflect on fairness, beauty, and how we cultivate peace in our connections with others.
The highlight of the day comes at the Venus-Saturn conjunction in Pisces at 8:26 PM EST, marking the beginning of a new cycle between Venus and Saturn. This is a cycle of stabilizing love and making commitments centered on love and resources. Venus brings beauty, connection, and value, while Saturn provides structure, discipline, and longevity. Together, they encourage us to plant seeds for stability and growth—particularly in relationships, finances, and practical structures of beauty.
Since this conjunction occurs in Pisces, look to the house that Pisces occupies in your Whole Sign chart to determine where this cycle is taking root. This area of life is where you’re being called to build something meaningful, whether through deeper commitments, clearer boundaries, or a more intentional approach to love and resources. The work you begin now may feel subtle at first, but Saturn ensures it has the potential to stand the test of time.
Introspective Questions:
- Where am I being called to create stability and commitment in my relationships or resources?
- How can I balance compassion and boundaries to build something lasting?
- What intentions do I need to set in this area of my life to support long-term growth?
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